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Adrien
1943 Comedy
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Credits
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Director: Fernandel
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Script: Jean Aurenche, Jean de Letraz, based on the play by Jean de Letraz
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Photo: Armand Thirard
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Music: Roger Dumas
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Cast: Fernandel (Adrien Moulinet),
Jean Tissier (Mouillette),
André Gabriello (Nortier),
Roger Duchesne (Étienne),
Paul Azaïs (Jules),
Paulette Dubost (Arlette),
Joe Alex (Le cireur nègre),
René Alié (Un gangster),
Dorette Ardenne (Gisèle),
Odette Barencey (La concierge)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 80 min; B&W
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Summary
Modest bank employee Adrien Moulinet sees an opportunity to achieve wealth and fame, thanks
to his revolutionary invention: the motorised roller skate. But, without money and
experience, how is he to market his new brainchild? He turns to an out-of-work ad-man
Jules to help him. With the support of three women, and a certain amount of good
luck, Adrien soon finds himself being propelled up the social ladder...
Review
The pressures of working for Continental Films seem not to have dented Fernandel’s
enthusiasm one iota and in this entertaining farce - which he also directed - the great
comic actor gives a typically ebullient performance. The Nazi-run company was clearly
keen to exploit Fernandel’s popularity, and maybe allowing the comedian to direct the
film was a cheap way of buying his complicity. In any event, it wasn’t Fernandel’s
first directing job - he’d already cut his directorial teeth on Simplet
, made just before the Occupation. It is not hard to see why, in France’s
darkest hour, a film like this would have been greatly appreciated by the masses.
© James Travers 2003
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